In memory of legendary former basketball coach John Wooden, UCLA will keep empty the seat where the "Wizard of Westwood" regularly sat up until last season, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
Wooden, who died June 4 at age 99, almost never missed a game at Pauley Pavilion, always sitting in section 103B, Row 2, Seat 1.
UCLA opens its season Friday night against Cal State-Northridge.
Head coach Ben Howland said Wooden was at every game in his first six seasons at UCLA, though he frequently missed games last season due to health problems.
"That's why we're going into this season in memory of his name and trying to get this team back on the right track," guard Malcolm Lee said.
UCLA struggled last season, finishing 14-18.
"I definitely looked at him when he was at the games," junior guard Jerime Anderson said. "It's hard not to notice that Coach Wooden is there."
Wooden coached the Bruins from 1948 to 1975, compiling an amazing record of 664-162 and winning 10 national titles. His teams won 88 straight games from 1971-74.
